Federal Council extends SRG licence unchanged by one year

The Federal Council intends to present its proposals at the end of the current year. The license specifies the mandate that SRG must fulfil with its radio and television programme services. The current license expires at the end of the year. With the Federal Council's decision, it will now be valid for one year longer. The new license should come into force in 2019 and apply until the planned new law on electronic media.

With the new concession, the Federal Council wants to sharpen the profile of SRG's performance mandate and thus more clearly outline its public service character, writes Media Minister Doris Leuthard's department in a press release. Aspects that the Federal Council addressed in a report last year will be taken into account. At the time, the Federal Council had announced that it wanted to adapt SRG to the digital age.

The offer must be where the audience is, i.e. also on the Internet, said Leuthard. Young people in particular are increasingly turning away from traditional media. The aim must be to reach them. The concession that will apply from 2019 should now take the accessibility of young people into account.

However, the Federal Council does not provide any details. It also mentions the safeguarding of existing information and cultural services as well as increased requirements for integration services. SRG should also be better distinguishable from other providers. According to the press release, additional efforts are planned in the entertainment sector. The Federal Council intends to launch a public consultation on the draft of the new SRG license at the end of 2017. The license should be adopted in mid-2018.

The Swiss Media Association welcomes the extension

In a statement, the Swiss Media Association (VSM) welcomes the extension of the SRG license by one year. The introduction of targeted TV advertising, which SRG had already planned for 2016 as part of the Admeira advertising marketing alliance, will therefore remain prohibited.

The approval of this target group-specific TV advertising is a threat to media diversity in Switzerland. This progressive commercialization of SRG would put the advertising revenues of daily and weekly newspapers, magazines and news platforms in Switzerland under severe pressure, the report continues.

The extension of the licence by one year will make it possible to await the decision on the ongoing proceedings before the Federal Supreme Court regarding the approval of the Admeira advertising market alliance and to gain time to optimize the framework conditions for SRG in order to strengthen media diversity in Switzerland.

The VSM welcomes the discussion about a sustainable SRG service mandate that enables the further development of its public service and at the same time ensures that the SRG does not jeopardize the future of private media providers by expanding its free digital and text offerings outside of its service mandate. (hae/SDA/pd)